Virginia Colleges to Debate Business Ethics with Corporate Leaders Statewide Ethics Bowl to Focus on Ethical Dilemmas in Business

2/6/2003

From: Laurie Callahan of Marymount University, 703-284-1648, laurie.callahan@marymount.edu or Britt Davis of VFIC, 804-288-6609; davis@vfic.org

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 6 -- The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) will sponsor its fourth statewide Ethics Bowl Competition on February 23-24, 2003, at Marymount University in Arlington. The theme of the 2003 Ethics Bowl is Business Ethics. Student teams from 15 of Virginia's private colleges and universities will debate corporate-oriented, ethical case studies. Business and community leaders from across the state will critique team arguments on cases that address numerous controversial business issues.

"After what our high-rolling corporate executives have put America through this past year, the need for a serious discussion about the ethics of business couldn't be greater," said Roger Mudd, History Channel journalist and VFIC Trustee. Teams of 3-5 students from the 15 VFIC colleges will be paired in head-to-head competition that will be judged by panels of distinguished leaders from Virginia's business sector including finance, technology, manufacturing, higher education, law, journalism, and other professions (complete list of judges attached).

"The VFIC Ethics Bowl is a unique forum that allows students from across Virginia to debate the best ethical responses to numerous controversial issues," said Ned Moore, president of the VFIC. "Students will analyze case studies dealing with timely topics that have made headlines over the past year, including insider trading, questionable accounting practices, target marketing to young people, use of consumer data, and executive compensation."

"The thoughtful debate of ethics in the corporate sector should be a top priority in higher education," says Jim Cherry, CEO of Virginia Banking for Wachovia. "Wachovia is proud to be associated with the VFIC Ethics Bowl program because we believe the future foundation of our nation will be built upon the ethical and moral standards of today's young people."

The Ethics Bowl program will commence with an opening program on Sunday, February 23, on the Main Campus of Marymount University in Arlington. Roger Mudd will serve as master of ceremonies. Student team debates will begin on Marymount's Ballston campus on February 24, at 9 a.m. The winning team will be announced at 5 p.m. the same day. Student teams from Marymount University and Washington and Lee University tied for the top spot in the 2002 Ethics Bowl.

"The VFIC Ethics Bowl provides a great opportunity for our students to apply the ethical decision-making skills they've been developing through their coursework," notes James E. Bundschuh, president of Marymount University.

Corporate sponsors of the 2003 Ethics Bowl include: Wachovia Bank, Richmond, Virginia (lead sponsor); Lee Technologies Group, Inc., Fairfax, Virginia; and GEICO Corporation, Chevy Chase, Maryland.

The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, founded in 1952, is a nonprofit, fundraising and programmatic partnership of colleges and supporting corporations. Nearly 100 students and faculty advisors will participate in the Ethics Bowl; they represent Bridgewater College, Emory & Henry College, Hampden-Sydney College, Hollins University, Lynchburg College, Mary Baldwin College, Marymount University, Randolph-Macon College, Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, Sweet Briar College, University of Richmond, Virginia Wesleyan College, and Washington and Lee University. For additional information on the VFIC and its member-schools, visit http://www.vfic.org.

Please see the complete list of Ethics Bowl judges:

Virginia Foundation For Independent Colleges Ethics Bowl Competition 2003 Leadership & Judges

Ethics Task Force Leadership Roger H. Mudd, The History Channel, Co-Chair Phillip C. Stone, President, Bridgewater College, Co-Chair

Ethics Bowl Judges: -- G. William Beale, President, Union Bank & Trust Company (Bowling Green) -- Lauren C. Bell, Professor of Political Science, Randolph-Macon College (Ashland) -- Susan Brady, Vice President, Human Resources, Lee Technologies, Inc. (Fairfax) -- John F. Buckley, Senior Attorney, National Legal Research Group (Charlottesville) -- Paul Byers, Director, Center for Ethical Concerns, Marymount University (Arlington) -- Nyla Carney, Professor & Associate Dean, School of Arts & Sciences, Marymount University (Arlington) -- J. P. Causey, Jr., President, Chesapeake Corporation Foundation (Richmond) -- James C. Cherry, President, Wachovia Bank, NA (Richmond) -- Beverley E. Dalton, Principal, W. C. English, Inc. (Lynchburg) -- Kathleen deLaski, Chief Communications Officer, Sallie-Mae, Inc. (Reston) -- Janine DeWitt-Heffner, Professor of Sociology & Criminal Justics, Marymount University (Arlington) -- Charles Feghali, President, Interstate Resources (Arlington) -- Robert Fitch, Vice President, Marketing & Government Relations, BAE Systems (Arlington) -- Douglas W. Foard, Executive Secretary-retired, Phi Beta Kappa (Lovettsville) -- Palmer P. Garson, Managing Partner, Jefferson Capital Partners (Richmond) -- Grayson P. Hanes, Esquire, Partner, Reed Smith, LLP (Falls Church) -- James N. Haynie, President, Chesapeake Hardwood Products (Chesapeake) -- Louis Hodges, Professor of Journalism, Washington and Lee University (Lexington) -- Edward M. Holland, Tidewater Research Foundation, Inc. (Arlington) -- J. Michael Kelly, Managing Director of Business Development-retired, Nasdaq (McLean) -- Hugh Latimer, Vice President, SFCS (Roanoke) -- J. P. London, Chairman, President & CEO, CACI International, Inc. (Arlington) -- C. S. Luck, III, Chairman, Luck Stone Corporation (Richmond) -- Laurie Lyckholm, Assistant Professor, Medical College of Virginia (Richmond) -- Catherine Mayes, Associate General Counsel, Sallie-Mae, Inc. (Reston) -- Marietta McCarty, Asst Professor of Philosophy, Piedmont Virginia Community College (Charlottesville) -- Janice Minshall, Vice President & Director of Communications, GEICO Corporation (Washington) -- Jonathan Mudd, Vice President, Media & Communications, The Motley Fool (Alexandria) -- Frank Nicolai, Executive Vice President (retired), American Management Systems (Fairfax) -- Carolyn Oxenford, Professor of Psychology, Marymount University (Arlington) -- Jeffrey Poston, Esq., Partner, King, Pagano & Harison (Washington DC) -- Richard S. Reese, Regional Sales Manager, Vulcan Construction Materials (Chester) -- Jennifer H. Sgro, Director of Development, Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (Richmond) -- Theodore F. Sheckels, Professor of English & Communications, Randolph-Macon College (Ashland) -- Knox Singleton, President, Inova Health System (Falls Church) -- Karen J. Slunder, Chief Financial Officer, Lee Technologies, Inc. (Fairfax) -- Dale Smalley, Strategic Staffing & Selection, Philip Morris USA (Richmond) -- Robert Smart, President, Framatome USA, Inc. (Rosslyn) -- Alice Starr, Vice President, WEST(star)GROUP (McLean) -- Marianne Vermeer, Vermeer Consulting Group (Richmond) -- Margaret Warner, Senior Correspondent, PBS - NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (Arlington) -- Alan L. Wurtzel, Chairman Emeritus, Circuit City Stores (Washington DC) -- Barbara Wyles, Northern Virginia Community College - Alexandria, Provost (Alexandria) -- Anita Wynn, Mid-Atlantic Community Affairs Manager, Wachovia Bank, NA (Richmond)